Operating means for automobile door latches and window regulators



y 1931. L. OTTINGER 1,803,675

OPERATING MEANS FOR AUTOMOBILE DOOR LATCHES AND WINDOW REGULATORS Filed June 2, 1928' 4 Sheets-Sheet l \NVENTOR .4134 A'ITOR Y L. OTTINGER May 5, 1931.

OPERATING MEANS FOR AUTOMOBILE DOOR LATCHES AND WINDOW REGULATORS Filed June 2. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVENTOR Z0012 flflmger 4 /M ATTOR EY May 5, 1931. L. OTTINGER 1,803,675

I OPERATING IEANS FOR AUTOMOBILE DOOR LATCHES AND WINDOW REGULATORS Filed June 2, 1928 4 Sheeis-Sheet a f&\ 91 7/59 y 1931- L.- orrmssR I 1,803,675

OPERATING MEANS FOR AUTOMOBILE DOOR LATCHES AND WINDOW REGULATORS Filed June 2. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 --J INVENTOR M ATTORNEY Patented May 5, 1931- UNITED STATES ljATENT OFFICE LEON or'rmenn, or new Your, 11. Y.

OPERATING MEANS FOR AUTOIOIB ILE'DOOR LATCHIES AND WINDOW REGULATORS Application filed June 2, 1928. Serial No. 282,426.

This invention relates to operating means for automobile door latches and window regulators.

Heretofore, the'door latch has been provided on the inner side of the door with a suitable operating handle for the'retraction of the latch bolt which is also used as a pull to, afiording a convenient hand grasp .for pulling the door to its closed position, and

the window regulator mechanism has also to the hinged edge of the door and in position for operation without necessitating that the occupant shall rise from his seat.

It is the primary object and purpose of my present invention to provide means whereby the three above-mentioned functions or purposes of the two handle members may be combined in a single operating handle. By the elimination of one of the handle members on the inner side of the door, the appearance of the door is improved, anda reduction in time, labor and material costs is also realized.

It is another object of the invention to provide a single rotatably mounted operating handle together with means carriedthereby which may be easily operated to connect said handle at will with an actuating part of the door latch, or of the window regulator.

It is also an important feature of my invention to provide means whereby the single handle member may thus be selectively connected either with the window regulator or the actuating means for the door latch, and with the handle arm extending in any one of several radial directions from its axis as maybe mostedesirable and convenient for the individual automobile owner.

.In one embodiment of the invention, the handle member has its center of gravity disposed so that when said member is disconnected from both the door latch ac tuating mechanism and the window regulator actuatingmechanism, it will assume a pendant position with respect to the hearing by which it is supported, and it is an important feature to provide a manually operable means carried by the handle for connecting the same with the door latch actuating memher which will operate to eflect such connection, only when the handle is disposed in such pendant relation to its bearing. This connecting means may be incorporated in several mechanical forms, certain of which I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings and includes as its essential element a pin or spindle axially shiftable through the end of the handle and rotating as a unit therewith, one end of said spindle being provided with a suitably formed head or finger piece which, when said handle is connected with the latch actuating mechanism to all appear ances forms a part of the handle end and is a quite inconspicuous.

This spindle, in addition to the means whereby the same may be connected with the latch actuating member also carries means for connecting-the handle with a part of the window regulator mechanism wken said spindle is moved axially through t e handle end to disconnect the same from the latch actuating mechanism. Since the windowis adjusted only at infrequent intervals, the shift-able spindle will remain normally in connected relation with the door latch actuating means so that when said handle is moved in one direction, it will operate said actuating means to retract the latch bolt.

It is another object of the invention to provide a very simple means whereby when the handle member is moved in the opposite direction from the direction of movement necessary to retract the latch bolt, said bolt actuating mechanism will be locked and since a part of this mechanism is engaged with the latch rollback operated by the outside door handle, the retraction of the bolt by means of said outside handle will be prevented so that the door is efl'ectually locked.

It is also an additional object of my invention to provide an operating means for the door latch and window regulator wherein the several parts with the exception of the handle, may be first assembled and then applied as a unit and insertedthrough an opening in i the inner wall of the well or run-way in the door which receives the window glass and easily, quickly and securely fixed in relation to said wall. It is then only necessary to apply an escutcheon member over the handle hearing which projects from the inner face of the door and then fit the end of the handle upon the projecting end of the spindle and into said bearing.

A suitable retaining key or screw is then inserted through a convenient opening in the wall of the escutcheon member to retain the handle in connection with the bearing, and finally the end plate or finger piece is secured upon the end of the slidable spindle to fit snugly on the handle end. This arrangement, provides for the easy and quick assem blage of the several parts of the device which may be readily performed by unskilled labor.

In general, it is my purpose to provide a single operating means mounted and arranged for selective connection to either the door latch or the window regulator which is of such simple construction that no difiiculty will be experienced by the mechanically inexperienced person in making the desired connection. In other words, I believe the de vice in the several forms hereinafter described to be substantially fool-proof.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the improved operating means for the door latch and window regulator of an automobile, as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims.

Referrring in detail to the drawings, in which, I have illustrated several desirable alternative forms of the essential features'of my present invention, and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,--

Figure 1 is an inner side elevation of an automobile door from which the upholstery has been removed and parts of the door broken away, and showing a remote control type of door latch and a window regulator of conventional for-m applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the operating handle, the several positions occupied by said handle being indicated by broken lines;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a similar sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an assembly view showing an alternative arrangement in which the handle member is moved in the opposite direction from that indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings in order to retract'the latch bolt and open the door;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 2 showing another means for releasably connecting the operating handle with the latch actuating mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a sectional View taken on the line 88 of Fig. 7, but showing the sliding spindle in connected relation with the latch actu-- ating member;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 7 illustrating still another alternative embodiment of the releasable connecting means between the handle and the latch actuating member;

Fig. 10 is a sectional View taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9, but showing the handle spindle operatively connected with the latch actuating member;

Figs. 11 and 12 are detail perspective views of the two clutch pins shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings;

Fig. 13 is a detail sectional view similar to Fig. 7 showing an alternative form of the means for connecting the handle spindle with the window regulator or the latch;

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 13 showing a means for retaining the spindle in neutral position;

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a slightly different arrangement of the window regulator with respect to the latch as used upon the front doors of an automobile which are hingedly mounted at their front vertical edges;

Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing a reversed arrangement of the means for coupling the operating handle with the latch actuating element as preferably used on the front doors so as to position the handle arm in upwardly extending relation to its axis as shown in Fig. 15, instead of in the pendant position as shown in Fig. 2, and

Figs. 17 and 18 are detail views similar to Figs. 9 and 10, showing an alternative of this form of the invention whereby the operating handle, may be coupled with the latch actuating element in either the depending or upwardly projecting position relative to the handle axis at the option of the user.

Referring in detail to the drawings and for the present more particularly to Figs. 1 to 5 thereof, for purposes of illustration, in Fig. 1 I have illustrated the invention as applied to the rear left hand door of an auto mobile of the four door or sedan type. The door structure, generally indicated at 5 is fabricated in the usual manner of suitably formed sections to provide vertical run-ways at the front and rear edges of the door which receive the vertical 'edges of the window glass indicated at 6. The lower part of the door structure has inner and outer spaced side walls between which the window glass is raised and lowered. .The body walls of the door extend from the horizontal sill bar at the lower edge of the window opening to the lower end of the door frame and the inner wall is usually secured to a relatively narrow horizontal panel indicated at'7. I

At the front edge of the door 5, the panel 7 is suitably mortised to receive the latch shown at 8, said latch including a suitable casing or housing-having) uide means for the spring pressed latch tilt 9, The latch also includes the rollback 10 which is fixed to the inner end of an exteriorly extending handle 11 which is suitably mounted in the front vertical frame bar of the door structure beyond the run-wa for the window glass 6. The operating mec anism for the latch is of the remote control type and includes a vertically positioned lever 12 pivotally mounted at its lower end within'the latch case as indicated at 12' and having bearing engagement at a point intermediate of its ends upon a part of the latch bolt 9 so that upon pivotal movement of the lever 12 in one direction, said bolt will be retracted into the latch case to permit of the opening movement of the door.

The rollback 10 connected with the'exterior operating handle bears against the upper end of the lever 12 so that upon the operation of said handle the lever will be operated to retract the latch bolt. The lever 12 is yieldingly held in its normal position in contact with the rollback 10 independently of the latch bolt 9 by means of the expansion spring 13 surrounding a rod 14 pivotally connected to the upper end of the lever 12, said spring hearing at one of its ends against the lever and at its other end against a guide 15 in which the rod 14 is loosely supported. It will be understood as this description proceeds that the novel features of my present invention may be readily employed in connection with many difierent types of automobile door latches as well as various forms of the window regulator mechanism. In the present instance however, I have shown'amore or less well known type of window regulator in which the several parts are operatively mounted or supported upon a stamped sheet metal plate 16 which is vertically positioned at the outer slde. of the door panel 7 more or less adjacent to the rear hinged edge of the door, and at its upper end isrsecurely fixed to said floor panel by attaching screws or other suitable fastening devices indicated at 17 A peripherally toothed sector plate 18 is pivotally mounted upon the lower end of the supporting plate 16 as 1ndicated at 19 and is movable in a plane parallel with said supporting plate closely adja cent to the outer face thereof. To this toothed sector a downwardly extending arm 20 is securely riveted, the lower end of said arm carrying a suitable roller indlcated at 21 moving freely in a guide channel 22 attached to the lower horizontal edge of the window glass 6.

Upon the opposite side of the supporting plate 16, a spiral spring 23 is arranged and has one of its ends secured to the rotatable pivot 19 of the sector 18 while its other end is suitably attached to the plate 16. This spring is placed under tension in the downward movement of the window 6, and aids in the lifting or upward movement of said window in the usual way.

Adjacent to the upper end of the plate 16, a part 24 is struck from the plane thereof and provides a bearing for the stud shaft of a pinion 25 which is in constant meshing engagement with the teeth of the sector plate 18. This pinion is carried by one part of a spring friction clutch of conventional type indicated at 26 which is mounted within a clutch casing 27.- said casing having a flange 28 at one of its ends securely riveted to the supporting plate 16. The other member of this clutch is in the form of a sleeve 29, and for the adaptation of my present invention.

one end of this sleeve is closed by the plate 30 the inner face of which is provided with radial teeth or serrations 31. d

An arm 32 is riveted or otherwise securely fixed as at 33 to a lateral projection or extension of a ring or annulus 34wh-ich loosely surrounds the clutch housing 27 adjacent to the flange 28 thereof. The arm 32 is provided with an angularly ofi'set part 35 positioned in spaced parallel relation to the ring 34 and beyond the inner end of the clutch 26. Thearm 32 extends downwardly at an oblique angle and the end thereof is provided with a flanged stud 36 slidably engaged in the slot 37 provided in one end of the bar 38, the other end of which is pivotally connected with the upper end of the latch bolt retracting lever 12 as shown at 39. 1

The bearing 40 for the operating handle is provided at one of its ends with an offset longitudinzil extension or flange 41 of substantially semi-circular form in cross-section, the end of which is securely riveted as at 42 to the inner side of the plate 16. This flange on its inner side has two longitudinally spaced shoulders 43 and 44 respectively, the shoulder 43 overlapping the edge of the ring 34 at the inner face thereof while the other shoulder 44 overlies the rounded ,or semicircular edge of the offset part 35 of the arm 32. Thus, it will be understood that this arm 32 is supported with the part 35 thereof in concentric relation to the axis of rotation of the pinion 25 by the rotatable bearing engagement of the ring 34 upon the clutch casing 27.

The bearing member'40 is bored to pro- "vide an outer section 45 of small diameter and an inner section 46 of relatively large diameter. The section 45 of the bore in said bearing member slidably receives a spindle or pin 47 which is formed at its outer end with a diametrically reduced axial extension 48 extending loosely through a central. opening in the end plate 30 of the clutch sleeve 29 and terminating in a circular flange or disc 49 which is provided on its inner face with the radial teeth or serrations 5O opposed to the similar teeth 31 in the plate 30 and adapted to interlock therewith. In properly spaced relation to the disc 49, oppositely disposed radially projecting pins 51, 52 respectively, are fixed to the spindle 47, said pins being of relatively different length as clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, and adapted for engagement in slots 53, 54 respectively, of corresponding lengths extending radially from a central opening in the part 35 of arm 32 through which the spindle 47 loosely proects.

Inwardly of the radial pins 51, 52, the spindle 47 is provided with suitably spaced circumferential grooves indicated at 55 and 56. These grooves are adapted to receive a spring pressed pin 57 mounted in the wall of the bearing member 40, said pin having a convex end coacting with the concave wall of the groove and operating to yieldingly hold the spindle 47 against an axial shifting movement relative to the bearing.

The spindle 47 has an inner end portion 58 approximately square in cross section which is adapted to be received in a similarly shaped bore 60 provided in the hub extension 59 formed on one end of the handle member 61. This hub extension 59 of the handle member is adapted to be rotatably fitted within the bore section 46 of the bearing member and is provided with a peripheral groove 62 to receive the inner end of a retaining screw 63 engaged in a transverse threaded opening in a wall of the bearing member.

7 It will be understood that all of the parts above described with the exception of the handle are assembled by skilled mechanics in proper operative relation to each other upon the supporting plate 16 of the window regulator, and said cooperating parts, together with the window regulator, as a unit are applied to operative position upon the door panel 7, the bearing member 40 being inserted from the outer side of said panel through an opening 64 of suitable diameter formed therethrough. After the supporting plate 16 has been securely attached to the panel 7, a sheet metal escutcheon member 65 of suitable ornamental form is then applied over the inwardly projecting end of the bearing 40, the outer edge or flange of the escutehcon member bearing against the upholstery material indicated at 66 which covers the inner face of the sheet metal side plate 67 of the door'structure.

The inner end of the spindle 47terminates in a reduced stud 68 which is loosely engaged through an opening formed through the end of the handle member 61 at the base of the bore 60. To this spindle end 68 the finger piece 69 is permanently and rigidly secured. As shown, I preferably form a. countersink in the face of the handle 61 to receive this finger piece 69 which may be in the form of a heavy sheet metal stamping having a I ginal flange portion 69' of this finger plate 69 which extends over the end and side edge portions of the handle may be suitably knurled or rou hened so as to provide for a secure grip by t 1e fingers.

The sheet metal escuteheon member 65 is provided with an opening in its .wall shown at T0 in proper location to register with the opening in the bearing 40 which receives the retaining screw 63 when said escutcheon member is in one position. taining screw has been applied, the escuteheon member may then be rotated while in frictional engagement at one of its ends with the end of the bearing member and at its other end against the upholstery 66 until the opening 70 is disposed at the under side of the bearing member where it will be invisible.

As thus far described, the operation of the device will be understood as follows: \Vith the parts in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. the crank arm of the handle 61 extends vertically downward from the bearing 40 and the pins 51, 52 of the slide spindle 47 are engaged in the slots 53, 54 respectively, of the part 35 of arm 32, the finger piece 69 on the end of said spindle being in close fitting contact against the end face of the handle and yieldingly held in such position by the pin 57 which is engaged in the inner groove 55 of the spindle 47. The free end of the handle arm is provided with a suitable hand grasp indicated at 61 pivotally connected thereto in any suitable inanner. When it is desired to open the door, the occupant, from this position on the seat, may reach forward and readily grasp the part 61'. As shown in Fig. 1, the operator then pulls rearwardly towards himself on the lower end of the handle until the handle After this re- 7 arm is positioned substantially at the angle indicated by the brokenline A. In this rotation of the handle in the bearin 40, the spindle 47 is of course, rotated therewith and through the medium of the pins or studs 51, 52, the arm 32 is moved to draw the connecting bar 38 rearwardly, and thus oscillate the lever 12 in a rearward direction to retract the latch bolt 9 against the action of the latch spring, thereby withd awing the nose of the latch bolt from the strike or keeper on the door pillar so that the door may be swung to its open position.- Of course, upon the release of the handle 61, said handle is returned to its normal position through the gcpon of the latch spring projecting the \Vhen it is desired to adjust the window 6 the finger piece 69 on the end of spindle 47 is grasped and pulled inwardly against the ly towards the outer side of the door through.

holding action of the spring pressed pin 57 to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, thereby displacing the pins 51, 52 carried by said. spindle from connection with the arm 32 and at the same time engaging the teeth or serrations 50 on the disc 49 on the outer end of said spindle with the complementary teeth or serrations 31 on the end plate 30 of the clutch sleeve 29. The spring pressed pin 57 seating in the outer groove 56 of the spindle 47 retains said spindle in connectedrelation with the window regulator against casual or accidental displacement. Upon now rotating the handle 61, rotation is imparted to pinion 25 and through the medium of the toothed sector 18 meshing with said'pinion and the a-rm'20 carried by said sector, the window may be raised or lowered, depending upon the direction of rotation of the handle. It will be un-. derstood that the expansion of the friction clutch spring against the wall of the clutch housing 27 acts to retain the window in its adjusted position against downward gravity movement and that when the handle is rotated in either direction to raise or lower the window, the action of the cliitch spring is released in the usual manner.

After the window has beenproperly ad-, justed, the spindle 47 is then forced outwardthe handle end until the pins 51, 52 engage the outer face of the part 35. This'movement is suflicient to release the connection between disc 49 and the end plate 30 of clutch mem ber 29, and the handle 61 will then dro b gravity to its normal pendant position w "0 disposes said pins in alignment with the proper slots 53 and 54.

Further pressure is then applied agpmst the finger piece 69 to force thespin e 47 to the position shown in Fi 2 and engage said finger piece against t e handle end, when the pins 51 and 52 will be positioned within the slots of the part 35, thereby again connecting the handle with the latch actuating mechanism. It will be evident that by making the pins' 51 and 52 and slots 53 and 54 of difierent lengths, in the event that after adjustment of the window, the handle is positioned at any other angle than the dependent vertical position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the pins cannot enter said slots to establish the connection with the latch actuating mechanism, and this connection may be properly made only when the handle has dropped to its normal ndant position. I have also provide a. very simple means whereby the latch bolt actuating means may be locked by a manipulation of the handle 61 so that it cannot be operated by the roll back 10 connected with the outside handle 11 to retract the latch bolt. This means for locking the latch by the inside handle may' rear end with a vertical shoulder 71- and adjacent to this shoulder a lug 72 is fixed to the inner face of the supporting plate 16 of the window regulator. v

It will therefore, be obvious that if the handle is pushed forwardly or moved in the opposite direction from that necessary to retract the bolt to substantially the position indicated by the broken line B in Fig. 1, the arm 32 will he moved upwardly and the shoulder 71 on the bar 38 will be positioned in close relation tothe forward edge of the lug 72, thus preventing rearward sliding movement of the bar 38 relative to the actuating arm 32. In order to retain the arm 32 in this position, the edge of the part 35 is provided with a notch or recess 73 which receives the spring presed retaining pin 74 suitably mounted in the flange or extension 41 of the bearing member 40. Thus, it is impossible to retract the latch bolt and open thedoor by theoperation of the rollback '10, while the inside handle 61 is in this position.

In addition to the above described functions of the single handle member 61 to operate the window ator as well as the door latch and to lock the latter against operation by the outside handle, it .be noted that the depending arm of the handle 61 serves as a convenient pull to by means of which the door may be swung from its open to the closed position with suflicient force to cause the repression of the latch bolt 9 as it rides over the strike plate. For this purpose, the handle arm is preferably curved as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawa slightly difierent arrangement wherein in the normal position of the o rating handle the arm 32' extends above c axis of rotation and is connected with the end of-the latch actua as in Fig. \1.

bar 38 in the same manner this case however, the rear end of said her extends over the lug 72 instead of below the same and is provided with the shoulder 71' on its lower edge to engage said lug. Therefore, in this a-rran ement, in order to retract the latch bolt and open the door the handle is pushed forwardly instead of being pulled rearwardly to substantially the dotted line position A and in order to lock the latch rollback so that the door cannot be opened by operation of the outside handle, the inside handle member is pulled rearwardly to the position indicated by the dotted line B, the arm 32' being thereby moved downwardly and positioning the shoulder 71' on connecting rod 38 against the lug 7 2.

In either of the above described arrangements, it will be understood that when the inside handle member 61 is in its normal position, the latch may be freely operated by the outside handle to open the door, as the connecting bar 38 will slide freely on the pin 36 and relative to the locking lug 72, the arm32 and the inside handle which is connected therewith remaining stationary.

In Figs. 7 and 8, I have shown another means whereby the slidable spindle 47 may be operatively connected with the latch actuating arm In this construction a plurality of spaced pawls 73 are pivotally mounted on one side of the part 35 of the latch actuatin arm and are yieldingly held by the springs 14 with their free ends in contact upon the cylindrical surface of the spindle 47. This spindle is provided with the circumferentially spaced notches or recesses 75 corresponding in number to the number of pawls 7 3. Each of these recesses at one end terminate in a radial shoulder 76, the base wall of the recess being inclined circumferentially of the spindle and gradually merging into the periphery thereof as seen in Fig. 8, and being also inclined from one side of the recess longitudinally of the spindle towards the outer end thereof and merging into the surfaces of the spindle as clearly shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings. At the inner end of this circumferentially and longitudinally inclined surface or at the deep side of the recess a second shoulder 77 is formed extending at right angles to the shoulder 76. The spindle, inwardly of these recesses 75 is provided with the spaced circumferential grooves to receive the retaining pin mounted in the bearing member 40 in the same manner as heretofore described. In Fig. 7 of the drawings, the toothed disc on the outer end of the spindle is shown connected with the window lator to operate the same and it will be noted that the notches 75 in the surface of said spindle are out of line with the pawls 73 which will ride freely on the spindle surface as the operating handle is rotated.

'hen the operation of the window re lator is stopped, and regardless of the anguld r position of the handle member 61 with respect to its axis of rotation, the spindle 47 may be pushed outwardly through the handle bearing 40 to disconnect the same from the Window regulator, said spindle moving freely through an opening in the part 35 until the notches or recesses 75 are in line with the pawls 73. The springs 7 4 force the free ends of these pawls inwardly into the recesses and when the handle is released so that it falls by gravity to its pendant position, the spindle rotates therewith and the end shoulders 76 of the recesses are brought into contacting engagement with the free ends of the respective pawls. The shoulders 77 of each recess engaging the respective pawls, limit the outward movement of the spindle 47, atwhich time the finger piece on the inner end of the spindle is engaged with the handle member 61. When the handle is now moved, it will be seen that through the medium of the pawls 73 engaging the shoulders 76 on the spindle 47, the latch actuating arm 32 will be operated. 'hen the spindle 47 is pulled inwardly to connect the same with the window regulator, the ends 6f the pawls 73 ride freely on the longitudinally inclined surfaces of the notches 75 until said pawls are out of line with the shoulders 76 of the notches. In this arrangement, it will be seen that regardless of the angular position which the handle member may occupy after operating the window regulator, only one movement of the spindle 47 is required in order to insure the proper operative connection between the handle member and the latch actuating arm 32 when the handle swings downwardly to its normal position, instead of the two successive movements which are required in the first described construction.

In Figs. 9 to 12 of the drawings, I have illustrated still another alternative form of this means for establishing the operative connection between the handle member and the latch actuating means, and one, which for certain reasons may be found preferable. This construction, like that last described, also permits of the connection being made with the latch actuating arm 32 in any position of the operating handle. As shown, the part 35 of the latch actuating arm is provided with the opening 78 through which the spindle 47 may freely move, and preferably the part 35 is formed at one side thereof with an annular boss or flange 79 surrounding this opening. A relatively narrow portion of the edge face of the opening 78 at the inner side of the part 35 is outwardly inclined or beveled as shown at 80. Atdiametrically opposite points, rectangular notches or recesses 81 and 82 respectively, are formed through the flange 79 and open upon the endvand inner faces thereof. It, will be noted from reference to Fig. 3 that these recesses at the face of the opemng 78 are of relatively different depths. It will also be observed from reference to Fig. 10 that the recess having thegreater depth is comparatively narrow while the recess which is of less depth is relatively wide. The inner end wall of each of these recesses slopes or inclines from the outer face of the flange 79 towards the beveled or flared end portion 80 of the opening 78 as indicated at 83 and 84, respectively.

The outer end of the spindle 47 adjacent to the part 35 has recesses 85 extending radially thereof and within each recess an expansion coil spring 86 is arranged. These springs engage the inner ends of the rectangular clutch pins 87 and88, and normally urges .said pins outwardly beyond the periphery of the bolt. The pins substantially corre spend in width and thickness with the width and depth of the respective recesses 81 and 82 and suitable means such as the pins 89 engaged in longitudinal grooves in one side of the respective clutch pins limits the outward movement ot said clutch pins under the action of the springs 88. The outer end of each of these pins 87and 88 has the oppositely inclined or beveled surfaces 90.

Assuming that the operating handle is connected to the window regulator, and it is desired to connect the same to the latch operating means, the spindle 4:7 is forced outwardly. Que of the inclined end faces 90 of each of the clutch pins is thus broughtinto contact with the beveled end surface 80 of the opening 78 so that the pins are forced inwardly against the action of springs 86, permitting the spindle 47 to freely enter and move. through the opening 78. When the spindle 47 has been forced outwardly to its limit and the finger piece 69 is properly seated against the end of the handle 61, the handle is then permitted to swing to its normal pendant position, the pins 87 and 88 moving freely upon the longitudinal surface of the opening 78 until these pins are positioned in radial registration with the respective recesses 81 and 82 whereupon they are forced outwardly by springs 86 so that their outer ends enter said recesses and one inclined end face 90 of each pin engages the incllnedor beveled end walls 83, 84 of the respective recesses.

A substantial area of bearing contact is afforded between the flat opposite side faces of the clutch pins and the opposed side faces or walls of the recesses 81 and 82 so that upon turning the operating handle, movement will be imparted to the actuating arm 32 to retract the latch bolt.

When it is desired to disconnect the operating handle from the latch actuating means and connect the same with the window regulator, the spindle 47 is pulled inwardly, and by reason of the bearing pressure of the inner inclined end faces 90 of the pins 87 and 88 against the corres faces 83 and 84 o the recesses, said pins will ndingly inclined end surbe readily forced inwardly into the openings and thereby permit the unresisted inward movement of the spindle through the openmg in the part 35 until said pins are posi tioned beyond the inner face of said part. when they will again assume their normal positions as shown in the drawings. The same spring pressed pin as above referred to mounted in the bearing member and engaging in a circumferential groove in the periphery of the spindle is provided for holding the spindle in the latter position. If desired, a similar retaining pin may also be used to engage a second groove and hold the spindle in its normal position, though it is thought that in this case, this second retaining pin might be dispensed with. as the coaction between the clutch pins 87 and 88 with the walls of the recesses 81 and 82 will offer sufficient resistance to any casual or accidental inward movement of the shiftable spindle 47 from its normal position.

It will be evident that in this last described construction, by providing the clutch pins and'recesses bf different widths and depths or thicknesses with respect to each other, the possibility of the operating handle being connected with the latch actuating arm in any other position of the handle member than its normal pendant position with respect tothe bearing, is precluded.

As shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings. the pins 81 and 88 have their centers out of line with each other so that when the spindle 47 is 82, the points or apices of these clutch pins will ride freely 011 the cylindrical surface of the opening 78 between said.recesses. The I apex of the relatively thin clutch pin 88 is also out of alignment with the relatively shallow recess 81 which is however, of greater width than said clutch pin. Thus, it isaplltl parent that the thin clutch pin 88 can in no event, enter the wide recess 81'to lock the handle in connection with the part 35 when the handle is in the upwardly extending position with respect to its axis.

In the application of my invention to the front doors of automobiles, which in different types may be of greater or less width than the rear doors, the window regulator and the inside operating handle .is properly positioned with respect to the forward hinged edge of the door for convenient. operation of the handle by the driver or occupant of the front seat. Therefdre, in doors of the narrower width, there may be a somewhat closer relation between the window regulator and the door latchthan is indicated in Fig. 1 of the draw- In this application of my present invention in connection with the particular type of window regulator which I have selected for purposes of illustration, some slight modification may be required in the connection between the arm 20 and the lower edge of the window glass with a greater traverse of arm in order to move the glass to its fully open or closed positions. These necessary dotail modifications can be easily made in order to secure the proper sliding movement of the. window glass without binding in the ver,

. necessary, the handle arm when connected with the latch actuating mechanism and in its normal position may be so disposed as to ex tend upwardly from its axis where it will be entirely out of the way of the drivers knee. Thus, as seen in Fig. 15 of the drawings, in so far as the construction first above described is concerned, it is only necessary to reverse the arrangement of the long and short clutch pins 51 and 52 and the slots 53 and 54 in the latch actuating element or arm 32' so that when the pins are positioned in said slots and the handle thus connected with the latch ac tuating arm by the spindle 47, said handle will project upwardly above the bearing and the enclosing escutcheon therefor as indicated at 61' in Figs. 15 and 16 of the draw- 08.. hen the handle thus disposed in anormal upwardly extending position, it will be understood that in order to operate the latch at the rear edge of-the door the operator grasps the upper end of the handle and pulls the same rearwardly, and in order to position the shoulder 71 of the latch actuating lustrated in 9 and llh'which enables a similar clutch for connecting the handle with the latch actuating mecha'nim to be employed on both the front and rear doors ofthe vehicle and in which the ins1de operatin handle member whenoonnected with may extend either upwardly or downwardly from its supporting bearing 40, at the option of the user. To accomplish this result, it is only necessary to make the pins 87' and 88' tively, of identically the same form and mech in its normal position,

aeoacva dimensions. The pins are also arranged in line with each other transversely of the spindle 47 and a single expansion spring 86' positioned between opposed ends of said pins and .urging the same outwardly beyond the periphery of the spindle. The notches or recesses 81' and 82 in the latch actuating arm 32, are of course, also of identically the same form and dimensions to receive the pins 87' and 88.

With this construction, if it is assumed that the handle 61, after operation of the window regulator is stopped in other than a vertical position above or below the handle bearing,

upon ushm' the spindle 47 outwardly through the andle end: to permit of its movement,.the pointed ends of the pins 87 and 88 will engage upon the cylindrical face of the opening 78 in the part 35, and ride thereon as the handle is rotated from such position. Obviously the handle may either be swung upwardly to a vertical position above its bearing or permitted to drop by gravity to a depending position relative to the bearing, and in either event, the clutch pins 87 88' will be brought into registering relation with the oppositely disposed recesses 81 and 82' and be projected outwardly by the spring 86'- into said recesses, thus ef fecting handle to the latch actuating arm 32 with said handle in the position which is best suited to the convemence of the user. 0d

course, thouser will understand that when 'above its axis, it must be-pushed forwardly to retract the latch bolt as will be readil understood from reference to Fig. 1 o the drawings. For the front doors, the reverse of these operations is necessary and when the handle member is in pendant relation to its axis, said member is ushed forwardly to operate the latch and w on said handlemember extends above its axis, a rearward movement is required in order to operate the latch. It will of course, be apparent that if desired additional oppositely related notches or receses may be rovided in the part 35 to receive the clutch pins carried by the spindle 47 and in conjunction with this form of the invention the spindle may be provided with an additional circumferential groove to receive the latch pin 57 as indicated in Fig. M of the drawings so as to yieldingly retain the spindle in the neutral position when disconnected from the window regulator, and thus permit the handletobefirst inthe selected radial position relative to its axis before operating the spindle ,47 to connect the handle with the latch actuating part 32.

Various other alternatives are possible for the means above described whereby the sinthe connection of the operating fill nected at with either the window regulator mechanism or the latch actua mechanism. For instance, as shownin ig. 13 of the drawings, the outer end of the slidable spindle 47 may be provided with the spaced frustro-conical cog members 91 and 92 respectively, the latter being fixed upon a reduced end extension of the spindle and positioned within the clutch sleeve 29. These cog members 91 and 92 have their smaller ends in opposed relation to each other and the member 91 is adapted to enter an opening 93 provided in the part of the latch actuating arm 32, the edge of which is provided with inclined teeth to mesh with the teeth of said cog member. In this normal position of the slidable spindle 47, the other cog member 92 is of course, disengaged from the complementary cog teeth on the wall of the opening 94 formed in the end plate of the clutch sleeve 29. In this position of the parts, the latch bolt will be retracted upon operationof the handle. By pulling the slidable spindle 47 inwardly through the handle end, the cog member 91 is disconnected from the part 35 of the latch actuating arm and the. cog member 92 is engaged ,with the teeth on the end plate of the clutch member so that. y

the window regulator will be actuated upon the operation of the handle member.

As shown in Fig. 13 of the drawings, in order to properly connect the handle with the latch actuating mechanism, the spindle is first 1 pushed outwardly sufficiently to disconnect the same from the actuating clutch element of the window regulator to a neutral position, the handle 61 being then permitted to drop by gravity to normal position, after which the spindle 47 is moved outwardly to the limit of its movement, at which time the gear element 91 is in mesh with the gear teeth 93 of the part 35.

Preferably, in order to yieldably retain the spindle in the neutral position while the transition from one operating position to the other is being made, I may provide such spindle with the additional circumferential groove 95 as shown in Fig. 14 of the drawings to receive the spring pressed retaining f pin 57 when the spindle is in its neutral position as shown in said figure. Upon moving the spindle in either direction from this position, the pin .57 is'forced out of the groove 95 and engages in one or the other of the grooves or 56 to hold said spindle in connection with either the window regulator or with the latch actuating mechanism, as the case may be. With this construction, it will be evident that regardless of the position of the handle 61 when the operation of the window regulator is stopped, the spindle 47 may first be moved to the neutral 'tion, and'the' handle ,then swung to any esired radially extending position with respect to its Therefore, since this formof the device re quires no predetermined position of the op-- crating handle in order to connect the same with the arm 32, it may for this reason he preferred.

In connection with the embodiments of the invention shown in Figs. 13 and 14, instead of using the beveled gear elements 91 and 92, I may provide the end of the spindle 47 with ordinary cogs having spaced radially projecting teeth to engage similar teeth formed on the parts of the clutch sleeve 29 and.35. lVhen such cog gears are used, it will be apparent that the spindle 47 may be separately assembled with the handle independently of the latch actuating means and the window regulator, and after theJatter have been a plied to the door; said spindle may then inserted from the inner side of the door and the handle mounted in the bearing 40.

by the use of such cog gears, the handle and spindle can at any time be removed by simply disengaging the screw 63 in the bear mem ber 40 from the groove 62 in the end of the handle.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with the accompan g drawings, the construction, manner 0 operation and several advantages of the embodiments of my invention herein disclosed will be clearly and fully understood. It will be seen that I have provided an assembled unit which may be readily mounted and arranged in operative ppsition upon the door by unskilled labor and y means of which, a single operating handle may be employed at the inner side of the door to actuate either the window regulator or the door latch at will.

In view of the simplicity of the device, the

manner of its operation is easily'understandable by'the person of average intelligence so that the device is substantially fool-proof and the possibility that the handle may be connected with the window regulator when; it is desired to operate the latch and open the door or vice-versa, is uite unlikely.

By the elimination of t e separate inside operating handle for the door latch and the location of the common operating handle for said latch and the window regulator adjacent to the'hinged edge of the door and within convenient reach of the occupant without leaving his seat, the appearance of the inner side of the car door is improved and the upholstery from said rearwardly positioned operating handle to the front edge of the door may remain entirely smooth and unbrokeu'by additional protub erant parts. Also by dispensing with the inside latch operatingihandle at e front edge of the door, liability of parts of the clothing catching thereon and being torn either in (Ms. can he and de' Wments oi to he enis neve less to he oerstood th t such. f atures might also he ,hodied in other structural forms, and accordingly reserve the privi ego of resortto all such legitimate char ,es therein as he fairly embodied within spirit and the invention as claimed.

.'-. claim:

ii. combination with an automobile door latch and Window regulator each having an. actuating element, single operating handle therefor, and partcarried by the handle and movable independently thereof, said part having spaced means releasably engageable with the respective actuating elements to operatively connect said handle at Will with the door latch or vvindovv regulator.

2. ln combination With an automobile door latch and Window regulator each having an actuating element, a single operating handle therefor, a part mounted in said handle and manually movahle independently thereof, and spaced means simultaneously operable upon the actuation of said part to establish an operative connection between said handle and one of said actuating elements While disestahlishing such operative connection between the handle and the other actuating elcment.

3. In combination with an automobile door latch and Window regulator each having an actuating element, a single operatmg handle therefor, a part mounted in said handle manually movable independently thereof, and spaced means carried by said part and movable therewith to releasahly engage said spaced means respectively with coacting means on the respective actuating elements when said part is moved in relatively opposite directions w ith respect to the handle to thereby selectively connect said handle at will with the door latch or Window regulator.

combination with an automobile door latch and windo egulator each having an actuating clemen J single rotatably mounted operating ha d tnereror, and means for es- 'tablishir an o. arative connection at will hetiveen ea or and the door latch or Win- ...acluding carried by the l om each. other axially y ale 4 l oer ve movement of first named rein ilvel opposite directions.

comhination with. an automobile door tch and window regulator each having ting element, a single rotatably mounts operating handle therefor, and means for tahlishing operative connection at will hetvveen said handle and the door latch or window regulator including a spindle moun' the handle and movable axially thereo and axially spaced means carried by soi spindle releasably coacting respectively :vit complementary means on the respective ac a uating elements upon movement of said spindle in relatively opposite directions with respect to the handle.

lln combination with an automobile door latch and Window regulator each having an actuating element, a single rotatably mounted operating handle therefor, and means for establishing an operative connection at will between said handle and the door latch or Window regulator, a manually operable spin dle axially movable in said operating handle, spaced means carried by said spindle for releasable engagement respectively with cornplementary means on the respective actuating elements in relatively different positions of said spindle With respect to the operating handle, and means for yieldably holding said spindle against axial movement relative to the handle in the operation of the latter to actuate the latch or the Window regulator.

7. In combination with an automobile door latch having an outside handle, and a Window regulator, a single inside operating handle therefor, means for establishing an operative connection at Will between said handle and the Window regulator or the door latch to actuate the latter when said handle is moved in one direction, and means rendered effective by movement of said handle in the opposite direction to lock the door latch against operation by the outside handle.

8. in combination with an automobile door latch having an outside handle, and a Window regulator, relatively movable actuating elements for the door latch, a single inside operating handle, means for establishing an. operative connection at will between said inside handle and the Window regulator or between the handle and one of the door latch actuating elements to operate the latch upon movement of said handle in one direction, and means coacting with the other latch actuatelement rendered effective upon a movement of the inside handle in the opposite direction to lock said latch against operation loy the outside handle.

In combination with an automobile door will."

I in the opposite direction and while connected with the latch actuating means to lock the latch against operation by the outside handle.

10. In combination with an automobile door having a latch mounted thereon at its free vertical edge and a window regulator adjacent to its hinged vertical edge, a single handle member rotatably mounted on the inher side of the door and also constitutin a pull to for the door, said handle mem er swinging by gravity to a normal pendant position relative to its axis of rotation, and

means for selectively establishing an operative connection between said handle member and the door latch or the window regulator to actuate either of said devices.

ll. In combination with an automobile door having a latch mounted thereon at its free vertical edge and having an outside operating handle, and a window regulator ad.- jacent to its hinged vertical edge, a single handle member rotatably mounted on the inner side of the door and also constituting a pull to for the door, said handle member swinging by gravity to a normal pendant position relative to its axis of rotation, and means for selectively establishing an operative connection between said handle member and the window regulator or between said handle and the door latch to actuate the latter upon a movement of said handle member in one direction, and means rendered efifective upon a rotative movement of said handle member in the opposite direction to lock the door latch against operation by the outside handle.

12. In combination with a window regulator for automobile doors having an attaching and supporting plate, a bearing for the window regulator handle fixed to said supporting plate, a door latch actuating element and a support therefor fixed to the window regulator attaching plate, a member axially movable in said bearing adapted for connection with the operating handle, and having spaced means releasably engageable' respectively with the latch actuating element or a part of 1 the window regulating mechanism to selectively connect the same with the handle for operation thereby, all of said parts constituting an assembly applicable as a unit to applied position u on the door structure.

In testimony t at I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name hereto.

' LEON OTTINGER. 

